School Shooting: Calls For Stricter Gun Laws

The husband of the US politician Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in Arizona, has called for action on America's gun laws following the latest mass shooting.

As America deals with the aftermath of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Captain Mark Kelly, a Nasa astronaut, wrote on his Facebook page that tightening the gun controls could wait no longer and called on politicians to act now.

He said: "As we mourn, we must sound a call for our leaders to stand up and do what is right."

He added: "The children of Sandy Hook Elementary School and all victims of gun violence deserve leaders who have the courage to participate in a meaningful discussion about our gun laws - and how they can be reformed and better enforced to prevent gun violence and death in America. This can no longer wait."

Barack Obama wipes away a tear as he calls for "meaningful action"

His wife was one of the people shot by Jared Loughner in Arizona in 2011. She survived with serious head injuries but six others were killed in the attack.

Barack Obama hinted at the possibility of gun law reform following the shooting in Connecticut, signalling it was time to come together to take meaningful action, "regardless of the politics".

There have been 61 mass murders involving firearms since 1982.

The most recent, where Adam Lanza shot dead 27 people on Friday, ranks as the country's worst school shooting.

Of all shootings, it is second in its gravity only to the Virginia Tech shooting in 2007, which claimed 32 lives.

A call for action at the White House vigil for the victims of the shooting

Already there have been protests outside the White House calling for reform of America's liberal gun laws.

Michael Moore, the director of Bowling For Columbine, a documentary which explored America's relationship with guns, tweeted: "Too soon to speak out about a gun-crazy nation? No, too late. At least THIRTY-ONE school shootings since Columbine."

He added: "The way to honour these dead children is to demand strict gun control, free mental health care, and an end to violence as public policy."

But with the right to bear arms enshrined in the second amendment to the US constitution and an increasingly strong gun lobby in the National Rifle Association, it is thought to be unlikely that will take the form of an outright ban.

Part of the problem with the US gun laws is that they vary widely between different states.

Connecticut, the state at the centre of the latest shooting, has the fourth strongest gun laws in the country, the US political commentator Charlie Wolf, told Sky News.

Yet Lanza, who it has been reported has a history of mental health, managed to amass an arsenal of at least six lethal weapons.

Two handguns and semi-automatic rifle found at the scene appeared to be legally purchased by the mother of the mass shooter.

Cho Seung-Hui killed 32 at Virginia Tech - America's most deadly shooting

Mr Wolf said the Sandy Hook shooting would not lead to an outright ban on gun ownership and that there were other issues which needed to be addressed, such as mental health.

He said: "I'm sure if this guy really wanted to he would have found guns elsewhere. It didn't stop Derrick Bird in this country (UK)."

He said that the right to bear arms was enshrined in the constitution but that it was possible the law could be strengthened to make sure people who shouldn't own guns couldn't buy them.

On top of the differences in gun laws across the states, the federal government regulates very little.

The so-called Brady law, signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1993, requires federal background checks on firearm purchasers in the United States.

It is intended to detect any potential red flags in an individual's criminal and mental health history.

But 40 per cent of arms sales are not affected by the law, because they take place between private individuals, through websites, or at gun show stands. These sales are not regulated by the federal government.

Loughner, who carried out the attack that wounded Ms Giffords, obtained the green light from the background check system before purchasing his guns.

He was cleared even though he was suspended from school for misconduct and had a history of drug use.

Gun ownership in the US is now at an all-time low and there is a suggestion that the public increasingly supports some gun control measures.

A recent CCN/ORC poll found a majority supported background checks and a ban on semi-automatic weapons.

Perhaps the killing of 20 children all aged under 10 will come to mark the beginning of a discussion that could lead to a rethink on America's gun laws.

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Newtown Principal Dawn Hochsprung Among Dead

A headteacher and a school psychologist went to the aid of their pupils after hearing gunshots at a Connecticut school, according to reports.

Therapist Diane Day was in a meeting with head Dawn Hochsprung and the school psychologist at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Friday morning when the gunman began shooting at around 9.30am.

"We were there for about five minutes chatting, and we heard Pop! Pop!, Pop!" Ms Day told The Wall Street Journal.

"I went under the table."

But Ms Hochsprung and the psychologist jumped out of their seats and ran out of the room, Ms Day said.

Ms Hochsprung was confirmed to be among seven adults and 20 children killed during the rampage. The school psychologist was also reported to have been killed.

"They didn't think twice about confronting or seeing what was going on,"  Ms Day said. 

Ms Hochsprung is also believed to have switched on a loudspeaker system in the school to alert students and staff to the danger.

"She was just an amazing woman... the kids loved her. It's a huge loss for our school and our town," said assistant librarian Maryanne Jacobs.

A candlelit vigil was held for the victims

Fourth-grade teacher Theodore Varga said: "You could hear the hysteria that was going on.

"Whoever did that saved a lot of people. Everyone in the school was listening to the terror that was transpiring."

He added that a school caretaker also ran out warning people there was a gunman on the premises.

The masked gunman has been named as 20-year-old Adam Lanza.

Robert Licata, whose six-year-old son was in one of the classrooms when the gunman burst in and opened fire, said he told him the shooter did not say anything.

He said: "That's when my son grabbed a bunch of his friends and ran out the door.

"He was very brave. He waited for his friends."

First-grade teacher Kaitlin Roig barricaded her 15 students inside a tiny bathroom with a bookshelf and told them to be "absolutely quiet".

She told ABC News: "I said, 'there are bad guys out there now. We need to wait for the good guys'.

"They asked, 'Can we go see if anyone is out there? I just want Christmas. I don't want to die, I just want to have Christmas.'"

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Newtown Shooting: Gunman Was Honours Student

The gunman behind the Connecticut school shooting was an honours student who lived in a wealthy neighbourhood with his mother.

Adam Lanza, 20, killed his mother, Nancy, at the home in Newtown they shared. He then drove her car to Sandy Hook Elementary School, where she had worked, and killed 20 children and seven adults before taking his own life.

So far, authorities have not spoken publicly of any possible motive. They found no note or manifesto, and Lanza - who was armed with at least two handguns and a high powered rifle - had no criminal history. He did not speak during the shooting, witnesses say.

A law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity said investigators believe Lanza attended Sandy Hook Elementary School several years ago.

Adam Lanza attended Newtown High School, and several local news clippings from recent years mention his name among the school's honour roll students.

Officials have said Lanza may have suffered from a personality disorder - and the gunman's older brother, Ryan Lanza, believes Adam did as well.

Police reportedly earlier confused Adam Lanza with Ryan, whose identity card he had been carrying with him when he went into the school.

The shooter's brother had been extremely cooperative and was not under arrest or in custody, but investigators were still searching his computers and phone records.

Ryan Lanza told law enforcement he had not been in touch with his brother since about 2010.

Brett Wilshe, a friend of Ryan Lanza's, said he sent him a Facebook message on Friday asking what was going on and if he was OK.

Ryan Lanza, the gunman's brother, is helping police

According to Wilshe, Ryan Lanza's reply was something along the lines of: "It was my brother. I think my mother is dead. Oh my God."

Adam Lanza's aunt Marsha said her nephew was raised by kind, nurturing parents who would not have hesitated to seek mental help for him if he needed it.

Marsha Lanza said she was close with Nancy Lanza and sent her a Facebook message on Friday morning asking how she was doing. Nancy Lanza never responded.

She described Nancy Lanza as a good mother and kind-hearted. If her son had needed counselling, "Nancy wasn't one to deny reality," she said.

Marsha Lanza said her husband saw Adam as recently as June and recalled nothing out of the ordinary about him.

Catherine Urso, who was attending a vigil Friday evening in Newtown, Connecticut, said her college-age son knew the killer and remembered him for his alternative style.

"He just said he was very thin, very remote and was one of the goths," she said.

Adam Lanza belonged to the school's technology club, which held LAN parties - short for local area network - in which students would gather at a member's home, hook up their computers into a small network and play games.

Joshua Milas, who graduated from Newtown High School in 2009, said Adam Lanza was generally a happy person but that he had not seen him in a few years.

"We would hang out, and he was a good kid. He was smart," Joshua Milas said.

"He was probably one of the smartest kids I know. He was probably a genius."

Responders gather at the scene of the school shooting

Lanza's parents filed for divorce in 2008, according to court records.

His father, Peter Lanza, lives in Stamford, Connecticut, according to public records, and he reportedly works as a tax director for General Electric.

An official said it was not clear that Adam Lanza had a job, and there was no indication of law enforcement interviews or search warrants at a place of business.

A neighbour in Newtown, Rhonda Cullens, said she knew Nancy Lanza from monthly get-togethers the neighbourhood women had a few years back for games of bunco, a dice game.

"She was a very nice lady," Ms Cullens said.

"She was just like all the rest of us in the neighbourhood, just a regular person."

Sandeep Kapur, who lives two doors down from the Lanza family in Newtown, said he did not know them and was unaware of any disturbances at the Lanza house in the three years that he and his family have been in the neighbourhood.

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US Shooting: Gunman Forced His Way Into School

The gunman who massacred 26 children and adults in America's worst school shooting forced his way into the building, police say.

Lieutenant Paul Vance told a news conference that the suspect was not voluntarily let into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newton.

Authorities say 20-year-old Adam Lanza shot his mother on Friday, drove her car to the school, then shot 20 children and six adults.

After storming through several classrooms, Lanza, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying two handguns, turned one of the guns he was carrying on himself.

Lt Vance confirmed that all of the victims have been positively identified.

The painstaking investigation of the crime scene itself is ongoing, and likely to continue for a further two days, he added.

When asked whether investigators had discovered any emails or notes to suggest the gunman's motive he said "very good evidence" had been recovered.

"Our investigators at the crime scene … did produce some very good evidence in this investigation that our investigators will be able to use in hopefully painting the complete picture as to how and more importantly why this occurred."

More follows...

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School Shooting In Connecticut, US, Say Police

US state police are responding to reports of a shooting at a school in Connecticut.

A number of people are reported to be injured following the incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Hartford.

Local media says there are unconfirmed reports of multiple victims and two shooters - one who is dead and another who is still at large.

Police told local media that a shooter was in the main office of the school and that a person in one room had "numerous gunshot wounds".

More follows...

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Basketball Fans Shot On Philadelphia Train

CCTV footage has been released of two US basketball fans being shot after "a little bit of banter" with fellow train passengers following their team's victory.

The pair of Chicago Bulls supporters had been celebrating their team's 96-89 win over local side the Philadelphia 76ers when they got involved in a dispute with two youths thought to be in their late teens.

Police say one of the two victims tried to calm the situation but both teenagers can be seen leaving the train before one turned and shot into the carriage.

The bullet went through the stomach of one of the Bulls fans before hitting the other in the thigh, while the teenagers ran off.

West Philadelphia Police told the Chicago Tribune the shooting followed "a little bit of banter".

Lieutenant John Walker, from Philadelphia Police, told CBS Philly the two injured Bulls fans were aged 30 and 35.

"The 35-year-old says 'listen man, this train's filled with people, there's young kids, there's ladies in here, you need to watch your mouth young boy'," he said.

"Of course, that escalates it a little further and we have a 30-year-old male who's on the train, who's behind the 35-year-old who says 'listen it's not worth it, these young boys, just let's cool out'.

"You can have disagreements, but the answer isn't pulling out a gun and firing and trying to resolve it. It doesn't make you a bigger man, it doesn't make you a better person, it makes you an idiot."

Detectives say around 35 people were on the train and that no other injuries were reported. The victims were said to be in a stable condition.

Police have appealed for information about the two youths.

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Hacker Gary McKinnon Faces No Further Action

Computer hacker Gary McKinnon will face no further criminal action, the Director of Public Prosecutions has announced.

The decision follows a review of the case after the Government's decision to block his extradition to the US in October on health grounds.

Mr McKinnon, 46, from Wood Green, north London, would have faced up to 60 years in prison if convicted in the US of alleged breaches of US military and Nasa networks.

Prosecutors had to decide whether Mr McKinnon should be tried in Britain over the allegations but have said that the appropriate place for trial would have been the US. That means no further charges will be levelled.

Mr McKinnon, who suffers from Asperger's syndrome, was permitted to stay in the UK after medical reports showed he was very likely to try to kill himself if extradited.

Both Prime Minister David Cameron, who held talks on the case with US president Barack Obama, and his deputy, Nick Clegg, had condemned plans to send him to the US.

However, the decision not to extradite "disappointed" the US authorities.

The Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer QC, said: "Following discussions between the US Department of Justice, the police and the Crown Prosecution Service in the autumn of 2002, a decision was taken that the appropriate place for Mr McKinnon to be tried was the United States."

As a result, the US sought Mr McKinnon's extradition for trial in the US.

The decision that the appropriate place for Mr McKinnon to be tried was the US was affirmed in 2009 and subsequently challenged in the High Court, and that challenge failed, Mr Starmer said.

"So far as the evidence is concerned, the position in 2012 is the same as it was in 2002."

Mr McKinnon's lawyer Karen Todner said: "I have mixed feelings about this. I am pleased he is not going to be prosecuted because I wouldn't want to think he would ever spend any time in prison given his mental situation.

"But I am disappointed because the extradition warrant is still outstanding because he can't travel anywhere outside of the UK and will have this hanging over him until it's resolved.

"We have discussed approaching president Obama and asking for a pardon."

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Royal Hospital: Nurse 'Victim Of Cruel Hoax'

The nurse at the centre of a royal prank call was the "victim of a cruel hoax", a hospital has insisted.

King Edward VII Hospital stressed Jacintha Saldanha was not subject to any disciplinary procedure and that there had been no criticism of her.

In a statement released as the hospital held a memorial service for the nurse, who took her own life, it said it had offered her support in the aftermath of the hoax call.

The comments come after claims in The Guardian that Ms Saldanha left three notes, one of which criticised staff at the hospital.

The hospital said it could not comment on the contents of the notes found in Ms Saldhana's room in the nurses accommodation because it had not seen them.

The duchess was being treated for severe morning sickness

The statement said: "There have been reports today about the alleged contents of one of the notes found in Jacintha's room. No-one at the hospital has seen these notes, and so we cannot comment on the reports or their accuracy."

It added: "Following the hoax call, hospital management offered her their support and told her that they considered her the victim of a cruel hoax. They stood by her actions, and made it clear there was no criticism of her, and that there would be no disciplinary action of any kind."

The hospital held a memorial service to allow friends and colleagues to pay their respects, a week after Ms Saldanha's death.

Lord Glenarthur, the chairman of the hospital, which has a long history of treating members of the royal family, insisted the hospital had been in contact with the family since Ms Saldanha's death and staff were helping police to determine what had happened.

Labour MP Keith Vaz has been supporting the family of Jacintha Saldanha

Ms Saldhana killed herself just days after answering a prank telephone call from Australian DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig to the hospital, where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for severe morning sickness.

The DJs from the station 2DayFM pretended to be Prince Charles and the Queen and were asking for an update on her health. Ms Saldanha put them through to the ward where the duchess was being treated.

The inquest into the 46-year-old nurse's death opened on Thursday. It heard Ms Saldhana was found in her room in the nurses accommodation close to the hospital. She had hanged herself and there were also marks on her wrists.

The mother-of-two left three notes: two were found in her room and the other among her personal possessions.

The DJs Michael Christian and Mel Greig have received death threats

As many as 12 staff from the radio station have been moved to safehouses after death threats to the radio hosts and 10 executives have been given bodyguards.

Australian police have launched an investigation into the threats and have seized a letter sent to Mr Christian warning him there were "bullets out there with your name on it".

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of the radio station, said: "The safety of our employees is an absolute priority. We have sensible measures in place, as we always do, to ensure our people are safe."

:: Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 08457 90 90 90 or email jo@samaritans.org

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M6 Chemical Tanker Fire: 10 People Treated

Firefighters were among a group of people treated at the scene of a chemical tanker fire that closed the M6, north of Coventry.

West Midlands Ambulance said nine people, including the lorry driver, were overcome by chemical fumes after the tanker caught fire at about 9.40am.

A section of the motorway was closed in both directions and motorists experienced long delays, the Highways Agency said.

Some caught up in the traffic queue behind the accident were evacuated from their cars after firefighters put in a 1km exclusion zone.

The ambulance services said more than 100 people were taken to a nearby service station to undergo checks, while local residents were advised to shut their windows.

Some motorists were evacuated (Image: Andrew Hawley)

Warwickshire Police said the drama happened after a tyre blew out and caught fire.

Andrew Hawley, who was at the scene, said on Twitter that the situation was "a nightmare" and he expected to be stuck for hours.

Drivers were being advised to stay away from the area as delays were expected to continue late into the day.

The motorway was closed northbound between J3 and J3A and southbound between J4 and J3.

Motorists experienced long delays

The J2 and J3 northbound access and the slip road from Corley Services between J3 and J4 were also closed.

The Highways Agency advised northbound traffic to come off at J2 and use the A46 southbound, A45 and then A452 in order to rejoin the motorway at J4.

Motorists wanting to travel along the M6 from the junction of the A14 and M1 J19 at Catthorpe are advised to use the M1 and A50 instead, while those heading north from London were advised to use the M40.

"Due to the motorway being closed there is a massive tailback of traffic and we are currently advising people to stay away from the area," a police spokeswoman said.

"Fire service are in attendance at the moment at the vehicle and it looks like it could be quite a long job."

Three ambulances were sent to the scene, as well as a rapid response vehicle, paramedics and specialist hazardous area response teams.

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Royal Prank Call Nurse 'Was Found Hanged'

Timeline: Kate Prank Call Tragedy

Updated: 4:38am UK, Tuesday 11 December 2012

Here are some of the key developments surrounding the death of hospital nurse Jacintha Saldanha following a hoax phone call by two Australian radio hosts.

Monday, December 3
The Duchess of Cambridge is admitted to King Edward VII's Hospital in London with severe morning sickness.

Tuesday, December 4
2Day FM presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian make their hoax call to the hospital in the early hours of the morning, posing as the Queen and Prince Charles. Nurse Jacintha Saldanha puts them through to a colleague who divulges details of how doctors have been treating the Duchess.

Wednesday, December 5
A King Edward VII's Hospital spokesman confirms the Australian radio station made the prank call, saying it "deplores" the act and is conducting a review of its phone system.

Thursday, December 6
The Duchess of Cambridge leaves hospital.

Friday, December 7
:: Ms Saldanha is pronounced dead at staff accommodation close to the hospital. She is thought to have taken her own life, although a post-mortem examination is yet to be held.

:: King Edward VII's Hospital releases a statement saying: "It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Ms Saldanha. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues."

:: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge send their condolences to Ms Saldanha's family.

Saturday, December 8
:: Ms Saldanha's family in southwest India speak of their heartache. Her mother-in-law, Carmine Barboza, says: "Jacintha was a very caring woman. She used to call us every Sunday without fail. We just cannot believe what has happened."

:: Ms Greig and Mr Christian go on indefinite leave from the radio station after they are bombarded with abusive and threatening messages on social media websites.

::  Lord Glenarthur, chairman of the King Edward VII's Hospital, writes a latter to 2Day FM calling for the "truly appalling" broadcast to "never be repeated".

:: Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Austereo which owns 2Day FM, describes the events over the past few days as "tragic", but adds: "The outcome was unforeseeable and very regrettable."

Sunday, December 9
:: It emerges Mel Greig and Michael Christian may be questioned by London's Metropolitan Police.

:: Ms Greig and Mr Christian express a desire to speak about the tragedy, but are still in hiding.

:: The Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates radio broadcasting, says it is considering whether it should launch an investigation into whether the presenters breached the commercial radio code of practice.

Monday, December 10

:: Mr Christian and Ms Greig break their silence, expressing their regret and sorrow over the tragedy in a series of emotional Australian TV interviews. They insist they never expected their phone call to go so far and thought hospital staff would hang up on them. Both extend sympathy to Ms Saldanha's family.

:: Ms Saldanha's family pay tribute to a "loving mother and wife". Speaking on their behalf, MP Keith Vaz says: "They are really grateful for the support of the British public and the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

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'Shocking' State Collusion On Finucane Murder

The notorious murder of Pat Finucane in Northern Ireland may never have happened had it not been for "shocking" state collusion, according to a new report.

A review by a leading QC found there was "significant doubt" that Mr Finucane would have been shot dead without the involvement of state agents.

State employees "actively furthered and facilitated" the murder, which was carried out by loyalist paramilitaries in 1989 as Mr Finucane ate dinner with his family.

Sir Desmond de Silva's report concluded that they and state agents played "key roles" in the killing, which is one of the most controversial in Northern Ireland's bloody history.

MPs heard that this involved targeting Mr Finucane, supplying and then helping dispose of a murder weapon and later seeking to obstruct the police investigation.

"It cannot be argued that these were rogue agents," Prime Minister David Cameron said in a sombre statement to the Commons.

Geraldine Finucane and daughter Katherine

The report even said that an officer with the Royal Ulster Constabulary - the official police force at the time - probably proposed Mr Finucane as a possible target.

However, it did dismiss the idea of a wider conspiracy - stressing that no ministers had been aware of the plot or later cover-up.

Despite the stark findings, Mr Finucane's family claimed the review was a "suppression of the truth" that sought to exonerate the British government, Army and intelligence services.

The solicitor's wife Geraldine said: "The dirt has been swept under the carpet without any serious attempt to lift the lid on what really happened to Pat and so many others.

"This report is a sham, this report is a whitewash, this report is a confidence trick dressed up as independent scrutiny and given invisible clothes of reliability but most of all, most hurtful and insulting of all, this report is not the truth."

Other shocking conclusions in de Silva review include:

:: The Army and Special Branch had advance notice of a series of planned assassinations by loyalists but nothing was done.

:: Brian Nelson and William Stobie were agents in the pay of the state involved in the Finucane murder and a third man became an agent after the shooting.

:: There was a "relentless" effort to cover up after the killing as senior Army officers "deliberately lied" to investigators and tried to mislead the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Finucane represented high profile republicans including IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands and was at the peak of his career when he died.

He was shot 14 times in front of his wife and children in the attack on February 12 1989.

His family have led a long campaign for a full public inquiry but their pleas were rejected last year in favour of a new review conducted in private.

David Cameron deliving his statement on the report in the Commons

Sir Desmond wrote: "My review of the evidence relating to Patrick Finucane's case has left me in no doubt that agents of the State were involved in carrying out serious violations of human rights up to and including murder.

"However, despite the different strands of involvement by elements of the State, I am satisfied that they were not linked to an over-arching State conspiracy to murder Patrick Finucane."

The report was handed to the family earlier on Wednesday before the Prime Minister updated MPs in an address reminiscent of his statement after the Bloody Sunday inquiry.

Describing the killing as "an appalling crime", Mr Cameron said reading the findings was "agony".

"The collusion demonstrated beyond any doubt by Sir Desmond - which included the involvement of state agents in murder - is totally unacceptable," he told MPs.

"We do not defend our security forces - or the many who have served in them with great distinction - by trying to claim otherwise.

"Collusion should never ever happen. So on behalf of the Government and the whole country, let me say again to the Finucane family: I am deeply sorry."

Mrs Finucane said she accepted Mr Cameron's apology but suggested he had little choice but to offer one.

"He is a human being. He probably does think it is an atrocious act. But unfortunately he is quite removed from Northern Ireland or what went on in the late 80s so maybe it isn't very hard for him to apologise.

"I will give him the benefit of the doubt and accept the apology but it doesn't go far enough because I don't really know what he is apologising for."

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Bosnian Serb Commander Jailed For Genocide

A former senior Bosnian Serb Army commander is jailed for life for his role in Europe's worst massacre since World War II.

Judges at the UN court in The Hague said that General Zdravko Tolimir was the "right hand" of Bosnian Serb military chief General Ratko Mladic.

Mladic is considered the chief architect of the murder of some 8,000 Muslim men and boys at the Srebenica enclave in eastern Bosnia in July 1995.

Tolimir, 64, is the latest Serb soldier to be convicted in the bloody Bosnian war between 1992 and 1995, which left around 100,000 dead.

Mladic and his political master Radovan Karadzic are still on trial for overseeing Serb atrocities throughout the war, including the Srebrenica massacre.

Presiding Judge Christoph Fluegge said: "The accused not only had knowledge of genocidal intent of others but also possessed it himself.

"He is therefore responsible for the crime of genocide."

Judge Fluegge added: "The suffering these men went through in the moments leading up to their deaths must have been unbearable.

"On many occasions those waiting to be shot saw others executed."

Tolimir stood, crossed himself three times and removed his glasses, but showed no emotion when he was told he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Before the judgement was read, he told the court: "I wish for these proceedings to be concluded in accordance with God's will."

He was the top Bosnian Serb intelligence officer and a trusted aide of Mladic.

Bosnian Serb forces overran Srebenica in 1995 despite the presence of Dutch UN peacekeepers who - outgunned and outnumbered - put up virtually no resistance.

Women were bussed away from the area before the Muslim men and boys were rounded up, taken to remote locations, executed and their bodies put into mass graves.

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Royal Nurse: Radio Gives £320K To Family Fund

A memorial fund for the family of the dead nurse who was the victim of the royal hoax call has been set up by the radio station responsible for the prank.

Southern Cross Austereo, the parent company of radio station 2Day FM, said the remainder of the profits for 2012 should go to a memorial fund to benefit Jacintha Saldhana's family.

The sum is expected to amount to AUS$500,000 (£326,000).

It has also cancelled its Christmas party, saying it would be "inappropriate" to go ahead with the celebrations, and would instead donate the money it would have spent to charity.

Rhys Holleran, SCA's chief executive, said: "We are very sorry for what has happened. It is a terrible tragedy and our thoughts continue to be with the family.

"We hope that by contributing to a memorial fund we can help to provide the Saldanha family with the support they need at this very difficult time."

A post-mortem examination on Ms Saldanha, who initially answered the prank call made to the hospital treating the Duchess of Cambridge, is being held today.

Ms Saldanha's family have been left "devastated" by their loss

Ms Saldanha was found dead on Friday days after she was tricked by Australian radio hosts Mel Greig and Michael Christian, who called the King Edward VII Hospital in central London.

She transferred the presenters, believing they were the Queen and the Prince of Wales, to a colleague who divulged details about Kate's treatment for severe morning sickness.

Ms Saldanha, 46, from Bristol, was found dead in a block of nurses' flats close to the hospital, where she stayed while working in London.

MP Keith Vaz met her family on Monday and said they had been "devastated" by the loss of a "loving mother and a loving wife".

Flanked by Ms Saldanha's husband Benedict Barboza and her two teenage children, Mr Vaz said: "They miss her every moment of every day, but they are really grateful to the support of the British public and to the public overseas for the messages of support and kindness."

Mr Vaz has called for the hospital to provide the family with more support and to hold an inquiry.

His criticism came after the DJs broke their silence about the nurse's death.

Interviewed on Australian TV networks, the 2Day FM presenters said there had been a "tragic turn of events no-one could have predicted or expected".

Mr Christian and Ms Greig have spoken emotionally about the tragedy

Police in London have contacted their Australian counterparts with a view to interviewing the pair ahead of an inquest into Ms Saldanha's death.

In response to Mr Vaz's criticism the hospital said its chief executive John Lofthouse had spoken to the nurse's husband on Friday by phone and offered to meet him whenever he wanted.

Under Australian regulations, the permission of anyone on the receiving end of a radio prank must be sought before the call can be broadcast.

The hospital has denied that anyone within its senior management or media unit was contacted.

The radio station insists appropriate checks were conducted before the pre-recorded item was broadcast.

Ms Saldanha was originally from Mangalore in southwest India, according to reports which have named her children as daughter Lisha, 14, and son Junal, 16.

Scotland Yard said the post-mortem would be held at Westminster Mortuary and it was likely an inquest would be opened and adjourned at Westminster Coroner's Court later this week

The Duchess of Cambridge has cancelled an appearance at the UK premiere of The Hobbit tomorrow because of her pregnancy sickness but The Duke of Cambridge will attend.

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Handcuffed Burglary Suspect Escapes In Cop Car

A handcuffed burglary suspect has escaped from police in Texas - by driving off in their squad car.

Officers from White Settlement near Fort Worth had arrested 41-year-old Darren Porter last Friday on suspicion of breaking into an antiques shop.

But when they left him alone for a few minutes in the back of their car, he managed to roll down a window, reach out and open the door.

Video from a dashboard camera in another squad car shows him then climbing into the driver's seat and taking off.

The second police car then shot off in pursuit, but to no avail.

The antique shop owner, Kenny Boone, said it was a comical scene.

"It kind of reminded me of the Keystone cops," he joked. "They were all running for their police car to chase this guy. I shouldn't say it was funny but it was kind of comical."

The police car was found abandoned in Fort Worth soon afterwards, but Porter was still at large on Tuesday morning.

White Settlement Police Department said the window switches in the back of their squad cars are supposed to be disabled.

But apparently not in this case.

Officers are now checking their other vehicles to make sure the back windows do not open.

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Libor Scandal: UK Police Make Three Arrests

The Serious Fraud Office has made three arrests as part of its investigation into the manipulation of the interbank lending rate, Libor.

Its statement read: "Today the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), with the assistance of the City of London Police, executed search warrants at three residential premises" - one in Surrey and two in Essex.

"Three men, aged 33, 41 and 47, have been arrested and taken to a London police station for interview in connection with the investigation into the manipulation of Libor."

It concluded: "The men are all British nationals currently living in the United Kingdom."

Major UK banks declined to comment on the development but Sky sources have suggested that one of the people detained used to work as a trader at the Swiss bank UBS, which has a big presence in the City.

The SFO's criminal inquiry began in July when it decided existing legislation gave it the scope to bring potential prosecutions.

While the identities of those arrested and their employers are not known at this stage, it is known that the SFO's inquiry has been wide-ranging and not limited to Barclays - the only UK bank so far to have been fined in connection with the scandal.

Bob Diamond quit Barclays after its £290m fine came to light

The £290m penalty inflicted on Barclays preceded the departure of its chief executive Bob Diamond and forced the British Bankers' Association to signal it would abandon its responsibility for oversight of Libor amid a clamour among politicians for reform.

Libor, which stands for London interbank offered rate, affects more than £350trn in global transactions and the rates created through the submissions bear a heavy influence in the calculation of a host of financial products including mortgages.

The City regulator, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), has been working closely with the SFO in its investigation.

A review of Libor by the FSA's boss Martin Wheatley has suggested a new body be created to oversee Libor with the rates set being based more on actual trades rather than just banks' own estimates.

Around 16 financial institutions have been investigated worldwide over alleged Libor rigging - including a total of three based in Britain.

Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland has previously said it hopes to settle any claims over Libor manipulation soon and warned that potential penalties could be significant.

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Belfast Flag Protest Riots 'A Disgrace'

Rioters have been warned against "holding Belfast to ransom" after a petrol bomb attack on a police officer by suspected loyalists which is being treated as attempted murder.

A gang of 15 men targeted, surrounded and smashed the unmarked vehicle on Monday night outside the offices of Alliance Party MP Naomi Long in Newlands Road.

It was the worst incident in another night of violence in parts of east and south Belfast involving loyalists who took to the streets again in protest against a decision to restrict the flying of the Union Flag at Belfast City Hall.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers said that while the matter was a sensitive issue, the clashes would not be tolerated.

"There can be absolutely no excuse or justification for this kind of thuggish and lawless behaviour," she said.

"It is a disgrace. We condemn it unreservedly and it should stop immediately.

"...Those people engaged in the kind of violence we have seen in the past few days are not defending the Union flag. They are dishonouring and shaming the flag of our country.

"There is nothing remotely British about what they are doing. They discredit the cause that they claim to support."

A car set alight in the Newtownards area over the weekend

Police Service Of Northern Ireland Assistant Chief Constable George Hamilton said the officer was lucky to escape with her life.

"This was a planned attempt to kill a police officer which also put the lives of the public in danger and it is fortunate there were no injuries," he said.

Officers were also attacked with petrol bombs in south Belfast close to the M1.

More talks are planned later between Peter Robinson, the Northern Ireland First Minister and leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, and Mike Nesbitt, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.

They will try to agree some sort of political strategy to ease tensions and end the violence.

It follows a meeting in Belfast on Monday between the pair, who have been heavily criticised by nationalists over their leadership since the trouble flared a week ago.

The Alliance Party has been the focus of loyalist anger

Ms Long's Alliance Party has been blamed by loyalists for supporting the nationalist SDLP and Sinn Fein in pushing the vote through Belfast City Council to lower the flag.

She said: "If Northern Ireland is to move forward then we need a strict adherence to the rule of law and respect for the democratic process. We need this urgently before lives are lost."

Mr Robinson said: "The attempted murder of a police officer in East Belfast was a despicable act of terror.

"The masked men responsible do not act in the name of our Union Flag. They are bringing shame on it. My prayers are with the police officers at the centre of this attack."

There were also protests in Limavady, Co Londonderry, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and Cookstown, Co Tyrone, where the car of a DUP member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Ian McCrea, was surrounded by angry loyalists.

PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said some of the violence was intense - and there was clearly some paramilitary involvement.

:: Witnesses have been urged to contact police at Strandtown on 0845 600 8000 or through the confidential Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111.

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